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When was the last time you paused long enough to thank the people who quietly helped you build?
In this special compilation episode, we highlight moments from eleven CEOs who reflected on the investors that shaped their companies’ trajectories, not just through capital, but through conviction, guidance, and belief. These clips reveal how the right investors help founders stay grounded in their mission, navigate uncertainty, and make better decisions during pivotal moments of growth.
Across these stories, one theme stands out: exceptional investors don’t just finance a business, they help founders become better leaders. They open doors, challenge thinking, and offer support that often goes unspoken and uncelebrated. As we head into the holiday season, this episode is an invitation for CEOs to pause, reflect, and acknowledge the people whose partnership made the climb possible.
Ways to Tune In:
#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:17 Daniel Chait - Greenhouse
02:54 Kyle Porter - Salesloft
06:50 Craig Walker - Dialpad
13:24 Dane Atkinson - Odeko
21:11 Diego Oppenheimer - Algorithmia
24:46 Itamar Friedman - Qodo
28:43 Jeron Paul - Spiff
34:03 Nadia Boujarwah - Dia&Co
38:59 Nick Patrick - Radar
44:16 Toby Kraus - Lightship
53:30 Tom Buiocchi - ServiceChannel
54:09 Outro
How can you motivate your team to embrace AI in their daily work? In this solo episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David discusses strategies to drive an AI-first mindset in your company.
Ways to Tune In:
#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #NovemberCEOPulse
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
03:16 Get Your Team Using AI
06:24 Get Traction With Focused AI Projects
10:42 Install A Champion To Own AI
14:00 Outro
How do you build one of the fastest-growing integration platforms in tech, while keeping culture, momentum, and innovation in sync?
In this episode, Shensi Ding, Co-Founder and CEO of Merge, shares her journey from investment banking to leading one of the most successful integration infrastructure companies in the market. She opens up about the company’s evolution, from a small startup in San Francisco to a category leader powering technology products and AI agents for companies like Ramp and OpenAI.
Shensi also discusses how she built Merge’s in-person culture during the height of the pandemic, what it takes to recruit top talent, and the lessons she’s learned about decision-making, adaptability, and sustaining momentum as a founder.
Takeaways:
Quote of the Show:
Links:
Ways to Tune In:
#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Merge
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:40 Starting Merge During the Pandemic
02:50 Challenges of In-Person Work Culture
03:42 Expanding to New York and International Markets
04:50 Maintaining Work Ethic and Decision Making
06:42 Evolving Leadership and Learning from Mistakes
10:56 Bringing Industry Leaders to Inspire the Team
13:56 Acquiring the First Customers
16:38 Dealing with Copycats and Maintaining Quality
21:08 Product Evolution and Adapting to AI
27:59 The Halo Effect of New Products
29:59 Promoting AI Tools Internally
33:15 Fundraising Challenges and Successes
38:08 Moving Upmarket and Adapting
41:42 Founders' Background and Journey
47:16 Balancing Work and Personal Life
50:41 Outro
How do the best founders learn faster, think deeper, and turn that mindset into companies that endure for decades?
In this episode, host David Politis sits down with Nikhil Basu Trivedi, Co-Founder of Footwork, one of Silicon Valley’s most respected early-stage investors. Nikhil’s career spans both sides of the table, from co-founding Artsy, the groundbreaking online art platform, to investing in category-defining companies like Canva, Lattice, Frame.io, and The Farmer’s Dog.
Nikhil shares how he evaluates founders, why the “slope of learning” is the most important quality he looks for, and how he builds long-term partnerships based on trust, curiosity, and shared ambition. He also opens up about the changing venture landscape, the hype and opportunity of AI, and what it means to be an investor who has truly walked in a founder’s shoes.
Quote of the Show:
Links:
Ways to Tune In:
#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Footwork
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:27 Key Traits in Founders: The Slope of Learning
04:59 The Importance of First Impressions in Pitching
13:48 Evaluating and Supporting Portfolio Companies
19:44 The Impact of AI on Venture Capital
24:04 The Value of Thought Partnership
31:10 Reflections on Missed Opportunities and Career Choices
36:30 Future Aspirations for Footwork
38.25 Outro
How do you build something meaningful without losing yourself in the process?
In this episode, David talks with Betsy Fore, Co-Founder and former CEO of Tiny Organics and Founding Partner of Velveteen Ventures. Betsy shares her remarkable journey from toy inventor to serial entrepreneur and impact investor, becoming the first Native American woman to raise a Series A along the way.
She opens up about co-creating Tiny Organics alongside 100 founding families, facing setbacks like her unaired Shark Tank appearance, and learning to redefine success through purpose and presence. Betsy also reflects on the lessons that shaped her new book, Built on Purpose, blending practical entrepreneurship with spiritual grounding and a values-driven approach to leadership.
Now, through her venture fund and nonprofit, Betsy is focused on investing in solutions that uplift communities, children, and the planet, showing that business can be both profitable and deeply purposeful.
Takeaways:
Quote of the Show:
Links:
Ways to Tune In:
#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #TinyOrganics #VelveteenVentures
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:26 Building Tiny Organics with Founding Families
07:47 From Tiny Organics to National Recognition
08:34 Lessons from a Previous Venture
13:51 Shark Tank Experience
19:18 Navigating the Venture Capital Landscape
25:07 Securing Initial Funding and Building a Strong Advisory Board
26:15 Realizing the Importance of Giving Back
27:55 Founding Natives Rising and Healing Through NLP
29:20 Investing in Underrepresented Founders
31:39 Writing 'Built on Purpose' and the Power of Manifestation
35:38 Inspiring Stories from Native American Founders
38:21 Launching a Venture Fund with a Purpose
41:26 From Rural Illinois to International Success
49:35 The Importance of Self-Compassion for Founders
50:35 Outro
How do you scale exceptional customer support without losing the human touch?
In this episode, David sits down with Ryan Wang, Co-Founder and CEO of Assembled, to explore this very challenge. What started as a simple scheduling tool has evolved into an AI-powered customer support platform trusted by leading companies like DoorDash and Salesforce.
Ryan opens up about the realities of scaling a fast-growing company, balancing innovation with culture, leading through learning, and keeping mission and execution at the heart of everything. His insights offer a playbook for founders and leaders aiming to build resilient, adaptable organizations.
Takeaways:
Quote of the Show:
Links:
Ways to Tune In:
#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Assembled
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:22 Deep Dive into Leadership and Management
04:25 Networking with Industry Leaders
09:12 Balancing Multiple Roles as CEO
15:31 Transition to CEO Role
23:33 Evolution of Assembled's Product
29:13 Running Through Y Combinator
30:28 Demo Days and Team Dynamics
32:16 Staying on Top of Rapid Changes
35:53 The Concept of Moat in Business
40:22 Adapting to AI and Cultural Challenges
45:09 Future Vision for Assembled
47:42 Personal Background and Influences
52:45 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
55:15 Outro
How can founders build companies that scale without burning themselves out in the process?
In this episode, Noah Shanok, Founder and former CEO of Stitcher, reflects on his entrepreneurial journey leading one of the earliest podcast platforms, which ultimately sold to SiriusXM for $325 million. He shares candid lessons from the early days of Stitcher, navigating sleepless nights, hiring versatile early employees, and learning from missteps along the way.
Noah also discusses how his time at Amazon influenced his approach to structured hiring, why prioritizing personal well-being is critical for long-term effectiveness, and how founders can overcome imposter syndrome. Now working as a coach to entrepreneurs, he brings a unique perspective on balancing growth with sustainability, drawing on both successes and challenges from his own journey.
Quote of the Show:
Links:
Ways to Tune In:
#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Stitcher
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:42 The Importance of Hiring a Versatile Team Member
02:24 Finding the Right Person for the Job
07:00 Lessons from Amazon's Hiring Process
13:29 Stitcher's Early Business Development Deals
21:37 Challenges and Realities of Strategic Partnerships
26:53 Coaching Founders: Common Challenges and Solutions
32:29 Transformative Changes and New Habits
33:13 The Impact of Prioritizing Self-Care
37:50 The Power of CEO Support Systems
38:24 Dealing with Imposter Syndrome
45:24 Lessons from Stitcher: Timing and Market Dynamics
48:58 The Drive to Build and Help Others
51:50 The Importance of Mentors and Advisors
57:25 The Need for a Support System for CEOs
59:38 Advice for Founders
1:00:58 Outro
Do you know how essential a support system is for a CEO? In this solo episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David discusses the often overlooked, yet critical support necessary for CEO success.
Ways to Tune In:
#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #OctoberCEOPulse
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:53 The Importance of a CEO Support System
03:57 Key Components of a CEO Support System
05:10 The Role of Co-Founders and Key Executives
07:33 The Value of Executive Assistants and Chiefs of Staff
09:24 Leveraging Board Members and Advisors
14:38 The Importance of Therapists and Personal Relationships
19:16 The Power of CEO Peer Networks
21:27 Outro
What can founders learn from an entrepreneur who has built, scaled, and exited multiple companies while reshaping an entire city’s startup ecosystem?
In this episode, David Cummings, Founder and CEO of Atlanta Ventures, reflects on his journey building ten companies, including Pardot, which sold to ExactTarget for $95 million, and investing in some of Atlanta’s most successful startups like Calendly and SalesLoft. He shares the guiding principles that shaped his entrepreneurial path, from building a culture-first company to navigating the realities of bootstrapping, scaling, and liquidity events.
David also opens up about his role in transforming Atlanta’s tech landscape through Atlanta Tech Village and his ambitious project to redevelop South Downtown into a vibrant startup district. Along the way, he offers candid advice for founders on leadership, resilience, and blending work with life in a sustainable way.
Quote of the Show:
Links:
Ways to Tune In:
#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #AtlantaVentures
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:44 Early Challenges and Successes at Pardot
02:24 Building a Strong Company Culture
03:02 Product Vision and Customer Focus
05:55 Transition from Doer to Leader
12:49 Bootstrapping vs. Fundraising
20:34 The ExactTarget Acquisition
31:08 Reflections on Entrepreneurship and Liquidity
36:52 Understanding Startup Valuations
38:09 Building a Winning Team at Pardot
41:17 Investing in Founders with the Right Attributes
43:29 The Atlanta Tech Village Journey
51:44 Revitalizing Downtown Atlanta
01:00:56 David's Entrepreneurial Beginnings
01:06:57 Balancing Entrepreneurship and Family
01:10:36 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
01:12:50 Outro
THE FIRST EPISODE OF INVESTORS UNFILTERED!
What do venture capitalists really look for in founders, and how can CEOs build strong, lasting relationships with their investors? In this episode, Chip Hazard, Co-Founder and General Partner at Flybridge, offers an inside look at how VCs think about evaluating founders, funding opportunities, and long-term partnerships. He shares the traits that consistently stand out and explains how these factors matter as much as business metrics, especially in the early stages.
Chip also unpacks the evolution of fundraising, from vision-driven early rounds to later stages where metrics and revenue quality become critical. He reflects on the dynamics of board relationships, the importance of clear alignment on strategy, and why constructive feedback and ongoing communication are vital to scaling effectively.
Takeaways:
Quote of the Show:
Links:
Ways to Tune In:
#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Flybridge
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:11 The Key Traits of Successful Founders
04:09 Assessing Founders Beyond the Pitch
06:04 Stages of Investment and What VCs Look For
15:36 Working with Founders Post-Investment
22:08 The Importance of External Perspectives
25:52 Challenges in Board Dynamics
30:37 Aligning with Venture Capitalists
37:55 Geographical Differences in Startups
40:13 Reflections and Regrets in Venture Capital
43:18 The Passion for Investing
45:47 Outro
From the publisher's feed
Our mission is to bend the curve for Founders and CEOs. At Not Another CEO, we know there’s no formula for running a business. Leadership is forged through unique journeys, real challenges, and…

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